Original X-roads-2003

Meanwhile in the Present…
 
    Mesiaha walked into the courtyard of Othesis Castle and made her way to the training ground. Sertoff stood beside Gartan talking as they watched the troops train in silence.
    Mesiaha had never heard the soldiers train so quietly before. Each soldier seemed to know his next move with precision. Everything seemed so well rehearsed, as if they had been doing it every day for years instead of a few months.
    Mesiaha was highly suspicious of this new skill level.
    Sertoff looked over at her.
    Mesiaha stopped wondering and looked at Sertoff. She walked over to the two, but stopped in shock when she heard the conversation.
    Sertoff glanced at the troops, “I need all the young men from the surrounding villages too, and every able body willing to sign up. Male or female, we can’t afford to discriminate. The forces against us are too great this time.”
    “It’s never an easy transition to the throne is it?” Gartan said to Sertoff. “I say in your case, it should be easy enough. We need a General as a leader right now, the people need someone they can have confidence in leading a successful war campaign.”
    Sertoff grunted in disgust, “If I decide to take the crown I will need to have a Queen here to watch over internal affairs, someone I can trust. I will be away too long, I can’t trust anyone already here while I am that far away unable to communicate.”
    Mesiaha didn’t want Sertoff to be King over everybody. In fact she didn’t know anyone who would want that.